Texan Couple on Real Housewives of New Jersey on Bond for Arson

Shortly after their big debut on the Real Housewives of New Jersey, it has come to light that John Madison Holmes and his wife Jodi Sue might not get to enjoy whatever fruits their measure of fame might bring them.

As of today, "Matt" Holmes, 39, and his 36-year-old wife are out on bond in Parker County, Texas, awaiting court dates relating to charges of arson, insurance fraud and money laundering.

Holmes is the father of Ashley, the unbelievably entitled 20-year-old brat who lives with mom and regular cast member Jacqueline Laurita in the Garden State. Matt and Jodi Sue Holmes recently blew in from Texas and debuted on the Bravo TV show for a sort of intervention with Ashley.

At a swanky restaurant one afternoon, Ashley's two sets of parents told the immature youngster that she needed to pull her head out, quit partying and get a job. Nothing in this life comes for free...that was kind of the gist of their come to Jesus meeting.

Police and fire officials in Parker County might say that Matt and Jodi Sue Holmes would have done well to heed that advice themselves. In June, a Parker County fire marshal investigator ruled that the March fire that destroyed the couple's partially remodeled Saginaw home was arson.

As the ashes smoldered and cooled, Holmes told investigators that the blaze erupted 30 to 45 minutes after he had dropped off some building supplies with contractors. Since then, authorities claim, a "credible witness" has come forward, one who claims to have seen Holmes dousing the structure in both gasoline and kerosene and then torching the place.

Matt Holmes: A perfectly reasonable explanation.

The fire marshal had already suspected arson, as he could find no other way to explain the blaze.

The couple received a $429,000 insurance settlement, some of which, authorities allege, went toward purchasing Jodi Sue's cosmetic surgery and a $40,000 diamond ring. Hell, a lady's gotta look the part if she's going on a Bravo TV reality show.

Matt Holmes was charged with arson, insurance fraud and money laundering and was released after posting $225,000 bond. Jodi Sue Holmes is charged with money laundering and posted her $75,000 bond.